Program Photos

Australia: Rainforest, Reef and Cultural Ecology

Location: Australia: Cairns

Term: Fall, Spring

Dates: late Aug-early Dec; early Feb-mid May

SIT Study Abroad

http://www.sit.edu

PO Box 676 Kipling Road Brattleboro, Vermont 05302-0676 United States

Call Us

Phone: (888)272-7881

Fax: (802)258-3296

Description

Investigate the terrestrial and marine ecological patterns and processes of tropical northern Queensland--a world vastly different from the rest of Australia. UNESCO has recognized the global significance of this region, listing rainforests and reefs as World Heritage sites. The tropical lowland rainforest is biogeographically the oldest in the world. Tableland plateaus and the incredible coral and marine life of the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef add to the ecological richness and diversity--due in part to the region's isolation from the rest of the world for all but the last two centuries.

Interdisciplinary lectures, workshops and field-based activities help students develop an in-depth understanding of the region's natural ecology as well as an appreciation of the historical and contemporary social pressures and natural resource exploitation issues affecting human communities.

Highlights

16 credits; Natural and Cultural Ecology Seminar, Environmental Field Study Seminar, four-week Independent Study Project; two-week homestay in Cairns designed to help students become familiar with the people and places of the district and prepare them for the intensive field modules.

The program includes extensive field excursions to a wide array of ecologically significant sites in the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage areas, as well as the Outback. Field excursions to marine, coastal, and upland habitats emphasize a synthetic approach to observing the influence of biophysical factors on both natural and human-dominated systems. In addition to investigating the biodiversity of the rainforest and reef, students explore cultural considerations and perspectives of traditional owners during an Aboriginal camping trip.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$:

contact sponsor

Cost Includes:

Cost Include Description:

Please inquire for costs: Fees include tuition, full room and board, all field trips and related fares, health and accident insurance, and other direct program expenses. Participants pay for international airfare and domestic travel to the point of departure from the USA.

Credit Available

no

Experience Required

yes

    At least one year of college-level work at the time of application and good academic standing with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5. Prerequisites: Previous college-level coursework and/or other significant preparation in environmental studies, ecology, biology, or related fields, as assessed by SIT.
This Program is open to

American, Worldwide Participant.

Typical Living Arrangements
  • Group living
  • Home-stays
  • Other

Participants Travel to Australia

in Groups

Application Process Involves
  • Letters of Reference
  • Physical Exam/Health Records
  • Transcript
  • Written Application
Typically The Application Process Time is
3 weeks
Post Services Include
  • Alumni Network
  • Exit Debriefing Abroad
  • Job and Internship Network
SIT Study Abroad's Mission Statement

A pioneer in experiential, field-based study abroad, SIT offers semester, summer, and academic year programs for undergraduate students in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as comparative programs in multiple locations.

 

Programs focus on critical global issues in specific geographical and cultural contexts using an interdisciplinary approach. Studying with host country faculty and living with families, students gain a deep appreciation for local cultures and become immersed in diverse topics ranging from the politics of identity to post-conflict transformation, from global health to environmental policy. 

Year Founded

1932

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